Venomous or Poisonous?

venom is injectd while poison is absorbed by mucous membranes.

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Originally Posted by JLC

So would it be accurate to say that the term "venomous" is a subset of "poisonous?" IE: All venomous animals can be considered poisonous...but not all poisonous things can be considered venomous? All apples are fruit...but not all fruit are apples.

If this is the case, then it can be just as correct, although less precise, to call snakes "poisonous."

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That is NOT accurate

the terms venomous and poisonous are a subset of the term TOXIC.

Venoms and poisons are TOXINS, with the word describing method of delivery (as already mentioned).

That is all.

I use this debate to make people feel stupid all the time.:P

This is how:

I ask said person if they think they are fairly smart. Pretty much everyone says yes. I then ask them to name a species of Poisonous snake. I wait for the answer, which is usually rattlesnake or cobra, then tell them they are wrong.

I get some really odd looks, then I elaborate. If something is poisonous, that carries the thought you need to eat it in order for it to harm you. Rattlesnakes are eaten quite commonly. Snakes are venomous, meaning they need to bite/sting you to do harm.

No one disagrees with me.

Gale

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Originally Posted by angllady2

I use this debate to make people feel stupid all the time.:P

This is how:

I ask said person if they think they are fairly smart. Pretty much everyone says yes. I then ask them to name a species of Poisonous snake. I wait for the answer, which is usually rattlesnake or cobra, then tell them they are wrong.

I get some really odd looks, then I elaborate. If something is poisonous, that carries the thought you need to eat it in order for it to harm you. Rattlesnakes are eaten quite commonly. Snakes are venomous, meaning they need to bite/sting you to do harm.

No one disagrees with me.

Gale

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But you are wrong.

There are in fact two poisonous snakes.

Rhabdophis Tigrinus are documented as venomous and poisonous. The cloacal excretions of ring neck snakes are also quite toxic.

Which makes them also both venomous (orally) and poisonous.

Careful who you ask that question to in the future...........

Quote:

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Originally Posted by angllady2

I use this debate to make people feel stupid all the time.:P

This is how:

I ask said person if they think they are fairly smart. Pretty much everyone says yes. I then ask them to name a species of Poisonous snake. I wait for the answer, which is usually rattlesnake or cobra, then tell them they are wrong.

I get some really odd looks, then I elaborate. If something is poisonous, that carries the thought you need to eat it in order for it to harm you. Rattlesnakes are eaten quite commonly. Snakes are venomous, meaning they need to bite/sting you to do harm.

No one disagrees with me.

Gale

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Man, I bet you're a blast to bring to parties..

owned!!!

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Originally Posted by Skiploder

But you are wrong.

There are in fact two poisonous snakes.

Rhabdophis Tigrinus are documented as venomous and poisonous. The cloacal excretions of ring neck snakes are also quite toxic.

Which makes them also both venomous (orally) and poisonous.

Careful who you ask that question to in the future...........

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this may be true, but until someone actually says those specific snakes, he's right :P

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Originally Posted by h00blah

this may be true, but until someone actually says those specific snakes, he's right :P

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:confused:

I love when people see my snakes and ask if they are poisonous. So my gf and I named our two dumerils Poisonous and Venomous. So when we get asked we can say no this one is venomous...THAT one is poisonous. The reactions are the best.

I asked a friend of mine that is studying to be a Pathologist about this and here is what she said.

Venom is poison, Poison is defined as any foreign substance that when introduced into the body causes organs and tissue to behave in a way not typical or to die. Even beer is a poison, the "Buzz you feel is the "poison" blocking never receptors, hindering muscle control ect.

To be "Poisoned" one must have ingested or absorbed the Toxin topically or other wise.

To be envenomated the toxin must have need introduced through a puncture or other trauma to the body..

So like was said before Poison is a description of the toxin it's the delivery method that makes the difference.